That could certainly happen. The experience he got here early in the season will only help him in the future.

I'm not on the 'let's fire Botterill' train because frankly I don't see Pegula doing it. He knows he needs stability in the Sabres organization and he's gonna extend his leash on Botts as long as he can.

I don't like some of he moves Botts has made but this season has gone the way I expected. They are just a .500 team. Nothing more, nothing less. Botts has lots of cap space to play with in the off season and let's see what he does. I have a few ideas on what needs to be done and hopefully Botts will succeed because I want him to.
- mhp

Have to agree with you. Taylor got a nice look at the big club and how Ralph runs the ship.

I still like botts. Some good moves, some, eh... but we do have to stop the cycle of fire and start again. That’s why I want another person in the front office with him. I don’t care the title (President, consultant, Jason’s idea trampoline), just an experienced hockey mind. Someone who might lean more toward making a move on d sooner or ever. Or being the sounding board that maybe bogo’s value isn’t as high as you’d want, but maybe it’s more detrimental to keep the malcontent and his horrid play around.

I just wanted fun hockey to watch and a shot at the playoffs. There has been some fun, but inconsistent fun hockey. And they are kinda in the playoff race. Now botts just needs to do a little something. Enough is enough with all the d men. Find a deal, figure it out. It doesn’t have to be a block buster. I don’t expect that outta him in season (even if it’d be nice). But try something.

Is not passing on another German one of them ?

Tim stützle is the truth.
- Pegullaville

Oh man I like this kid, very impressed. He could be a top 5 pick. I like that Holtz kid too. If it shakes out that we get a top 10 pick I hope we trade up.

pick 7
pick 1
pick 8
pick 8
pick 2
pick 2
pick 8
pick 12, pick 14
pick 16
pick 23
pick 13
pick 12, pick 26



all this and never sniffing the playoffs in going on 9 years



it's a f@cking joke

Have to agree with you. Taylor got a nice look at the big club and how Ralph runs the ship.

I still like botts. Some good moves, some, eh... but we do have to stop the cycle of fire and start again. That’s why I want another person in the front office with him. I don’t care the title (President, consultant, Jason’s idea trampoline), just an experienced hockey mind. Someone who might lean more toward making a move on d sooner or ever. Or being the sounding board that maybe bogo’s value isn’t as high as you’d want, but maybe it’s more detrimental to keep the malcontent and his horrid play around.

I just wanted fun hockey to watch and a shot at the playoffs. There has been some fun, but inconsistent fun hockey. And they are kinda in the playoff race. Now botts just needs to do a little something. Enough is enough with all the d men. Find a deal, figure it out. It doesn’t have to be a block buster. I don’t expect that outta him in season (even if it’d be nice). But try something.
- Gr8daygo

Good post.

I hear ya and understand the frustration. I've followed the Sabres since game 1 in 1970 and want to see playoff hockey. But I get what they are doing. We all want to see a move right now and I do too but I kinda doubt he does anything till the deadline. I follow Rochester pretty closely and there are pieces down there that could fit next year. He needs to make 2 trades this summer and get 2 UFA's.

Sharks have 62 mil locked up in 11 players for next season.

Only 3 viable NHL D men.

Wonder if we could swap McCabe + for Lebanc.

Or Risto for Hertl. Though I think losing Thornton makes them less likely to move a center.

They might be the team to poach a forward off of

That could certainly happen. The experience he got here early in the season will only help him in the future.

I'm not on the 'let's fire Botterill' train because frankly I don't see Pegula doing it. He knows he needs stability in the Sabres organization and he's gonna extend his leash on Botts as long as he can.

I don't like some of he moves Botts has made but this season has gone the way I expected. They are just a .500 team. Nothing more, nothing less. Botts has lots of cap space to play with in the off season and let's see what he does. I have a few ideas on what needs to be done and hopefully Botts will succeed because I want him to.
- mhp

Good post MHP, I'm sorry I haven't liked some of the things Botts has done either, but he really wasn't handed much when he got here. And I really don't believe he doesn't know how to build a team, he had a hand in building some very good ones in Pittsburgh.

pick 7
pick 1
pick 8
pick 8
pick 2
pick 2
pick 8
pick 12, pick 14
pick 16
pick 23
pick 13
pick 12, pick 26



all this and never sniffing the playoffs in going on 9 years



it's a f@cking joke
- homiedclown

Karlsson went three picks after Myers

Tom Wilson, Tomas Hertl, and Tuevo Terravinen went just after Grigorenko and Girgensons.

Horvat went right after Risto, Mantha a few picks after Zadorov

Draisatil after Reinhart

Sergachev, McAvoy, Chychrun, Jost, Kunin all went after Nylander in the following 8 or so picks.

Martin Necas and Nick Suzuki went in the top 15 after Mittelstadt.


Darcy, Murray, and Botts all have a hand in this mess.

Good post MHP, I'm sorry I haven't liked some of the things Botts has done either, but he really wasn't handed much when he got here.
- Buff36

being handed a generational center like eichel alone is handed enough to be in the mix for the playoffs at the end of this season

if we are playing meaningless games for the last 10 games of this season, in year 3 of botts, it's time to consider another change

Darcy, Murray, and Botts all have a hand in this mess.
- Pegullaville

agreed

Good post MHP, I'm sorry I haven't liked some of the things Botts has done either, but he really wasn't handed much when he got here. And I really don't believe he doesn't know how to build a team, he had a hand in building some very good ones in Pittsburgh.
- Buff36

He needs to hit a few homers this summer, similar to the Joker trade. He needs some vets with SC experience in the locker room. He needs to turn the page on Girgs and Larsson, although they have played well at times this year. I would re-sign Vesey but only for 1 year. Bye bye to ERod, McCabe, Sheary, Bogo, Scandolous and Hutton. I would add Cozens, Tage, Ruotsalainen, Pilut, Johansson. That will leave some spots open.

He needs to hit a few homers this summer, similar to the Joker trade. He needs some vets with SC experience in the locker room. He needs to turn the page on Girgs and Larsson, although they have played well at times this year. I would re-sign Vesey but only for 1 year. Bye bye to ERod, McCabe, Sheary, Bogo, Scandolous and Hutton. I would add Cozens, Tage, Ruotsalainen, Pilut, Johansson. That will leave some spots open.
- mhp

I would bring back Larsson but I agree with the rest of this post.

Karlsson went three picks after Myers

Tom Wilson, Tomas Hertl, and Tuevo Terravinen went just after Grigorenko and Girgensons.

Horvat went right after Risto, Mantha a few picks after Zadorov

Draisatil after Reinhart

Sergachev, McAvoy, Chychrun, Jost, Kunin all went after Nylander in the following 8 or so picks.

Martin Necas and Nick Suzuki went in the top 15 after Mittelstadt.


Darcy, Murray, and Botts all have a hand in this mess.
- Pegullaville

Botts picking Johnson last year when Pinto, Brink, Lavoie and Kaliyev were there is gonna haunt him. I hated that pick and still do.

We know that Jason has alot of time on his hands, and during that time he likes to come here and get ideas, so I thought I would post this to spur him on to some trade activity

Eastern GP PTS Cap Space Note
WSH 38 57 $0.30
BOS 38 53 $1.00 (LTIR)
NYI 35 49 $11.10
PHI 37 47 $1.20 (LTIR)
PIT 36 46 $1.30
CAR 37 46 $2.80
TOR 38 44 $1.20 (LTIR)
MTL 37 42 $7.80
FLA 36 41 $0.20
BUF 38 41 $4.00 (LTIR)
TBL 35 40 $4.10
CBJ 37 40 $9.30
NYR 36 38 $6.10
OTT 38 36 $11.40
NJD 36 29 $11.10
DET 38 21 $11.30 (LTIR)

Western GP Pts Cap Space Note
STL. 38 54 $4.90 (LTIR)
ARI. 39 46 $5.70 (LTIR)
VEG 40 46 $0.90
COL 37 49 $12.60
WPG 37 44 $8.50
DAL. 38 44 $4.70 (LTIR)
EDM 40 44 $1.20
CGY 39 43 $0.50 (LTIR)
NSH 36 42 $4.90
VAN 38 42 $1.20 (LTIR)
MIN. 38 41 $4.10
CHI 38 36 $12.80 (LTIR)
ANA 37 34 $5.80
SJS 38 34 $2.10
LAK 39 34 $8.20

Botts picking Johnson last year when Pinto, Brink, Lavoie and Kaliyev were there is gonna haunt him. I hated that pick and still do.
- mhp

I really liked Brink. Thought he’d go around pick 20.

I would bring back Larsson but I agree with the rest of this post.
- Pegullaville

Understood, fair point. I see Asplund or Ruotsalainen taking that spot but I understand the logic behind Larry. He's done well this year but is he playing for his next contract?

Edit- I would give Brett Murray a strong look at camp next year.

I really liked Brink. Thought he’d go around pick 20.
- Pegullaville

I was in the Kaliyev camp. I wanted a forward so bad there. A future line of Cozens-Tage-Brink or any other guy in that mix would be nice.

being handed a generational center like eichel alone is handed enough to be in the mix for the playoffs at the end of this season

if we are playing meaningless games for the last 10 games of this season, in year 3 of botts, it's time to consider another change
- homiedclown

1 player does not make a team, even as good as Eichel is, but I agree about meaningless games, we are to close for him not to try and help this team get over the hump

14 teams with ample, even googles of Cap Space available, the vast majority of which do NOT have LTIR issues to consider.
Plus, 5 or 6 teams competing for 2 or 3 playoff spots in each conference.

There should be ample opportunity to
A) make a hockey trade or 2
B) unload some pending FA's for picks

#StopTheExcusesJason
#DoSomethingBotts

WTF!

Understood, fair point. I see Asplund or Ruotsalainen taking that spot but I understand the logic behind Larry. He's done well this year but is he playing for his next contract?

Edit- I would give Brett Murray a strong look at camp next year.
- mhp

I would package Asplund right now to make a move to bring in a proven top 9 forward.

I don’t think he’ll amount to much, and Larsson would be better suited as a 4th C.

Please stop posting.

I’m asking politely.
- Der Kaiser

Choke.

The fact that no one here is really pissed, or bummed, or fuming about another lost season really says it all. There's just a shroud of apathy after years of continual failure
- jcragcrumple

I wish I could burn down KBC in all honesty.

pick 7
pick 1
pick 8
pick 8
pick 2
pick 2
pick 8
pick 12, pick 14
pick 16
pick 23
pick 13
pick 12, pick 26



all this and never sniffing the playoffs in going on 9 years



it's a f@cking joke
- homiedclown

But my source tells me all NHL teams are made up of players drafted in rounds 1 and 2.

Sharks have 62 mil locked up in 11 players for next season.

Only 3 viable NHL D men.

Wonder if we could swap McCabe + for Lebanc.

Or Risto for Hertl. Though I think losing Thornton makes them less likely to move a center.

They might be the team to poach a forward off of
- sbroads24

Is Evander Kane available? We could use a real power-forward.

Darcy, Murray, and Botts all have a hand in this mess.
- Pegullaville

You're finally coming back around.

Were you abusing acid the past few months? It's okay, I've done it too and it makes you act a little wonky.

But you're spot on with that one.

I would package Asplund right now to make a move to bring in a proven top 9 forward.

I don’t think he’ll amount to much, and Larsson would be better suited as a 4th C.
- Pegullaville

Asplund is not the player you move right now. You literally move half the NHL team right now before him. He's gonna be a great bottom-6 player, unlike Larsson, who is a mediocre bottom-6 player.

Asplund is a much better penalty killer already.